Schools throughout Erie area closed

Frigid temperatures forced schools throughout the region to close today.

"In 38 years I don't ever remember it being that cold," Girard schools Superintendent James Tracy said. "I think it's the first and only time I've canceled in 10 years."

Erie schools Superintendent Jay Badams made the decision to close the district shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, said Matthew Cummings, the district's director of communication.

The decision was made because of "the dangerous wind chills expected tomorrow (below) minus 30 and to give parents ample notice to make alternate arrangements and family schedule adjustments," Cummings said Monday.

This is the second time the district, the largest in the region with more than 12,000 students, has canceled classes this school year. The district also was closed on Dec. 16; students will make up the snow days on June 9 and 10.

Other districts and schools that reported closures for today as of press time Monday:

- Conneaut Area School District

- Corry Area School District

- Crawford Central School District

- Fairview School District

- Fort LeBoeuf School District

- General McLane School District

- Girard School District

- Harbor Creek School District

- Iroquois School District

- Millcreek Township School District

- North East School District

- Northwestern School District

- Penncrest School District

- Titusville Area School District

- Warren County School District

- Wattsburg Area School District

- All parochial elementary schools in Erie and Millcreek are closed, as is Mercyhurst Preparatory School.

- Robert Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School

- Montessori Regional Charter School

- Erie R.I.S.E. Leadership Academy Charter School

- Penn State Behrend

- Erie County Technical School, including the Career Alternatives Education Program and the Tech Tykes Preschool

- Regional Career and Technical Center

- Warren County Career Center

- Crawford County Career & Technical Center

- Montessori In The Woods

- The Boys & Girls Club of Erie's prekindergarten and after-school programs

- Erie First Christian Academy, Erie First Preschool, and Erie First Daycare

ERICA ERWIN can be reached at 870-1846 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNerwin.